ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1920, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE KIWIS. SUCCESSFUL OPENING PERFORMANCE. The N.Z.E.F. Brigade Entertainers styled "The Kiwis," could have no complaint of the audience to which they played at the opening performance of their New Plymouth season at tlie Empire Theatre last night. The hall was well filled, and those present (showed their keen appreciation of the programme by the hearty manner in which they applauded each item, and the insistence with -which encores were demanded. The audience could have no complaint at the programme submitted, except perhaps as to its length, and that is not one which is likely to be pressed with anv seriousness. The performance was well staged and. was bright and sparkling from start to finish. The costuming pleasing and the lighting effects" brightened that ..pleasure. The singing of the whole fmrty was most harmonious, there being a splendid blend and balance of voices in the concerted numbers. This was "particularly noticeable in the harmonised refrain to sevpral of the solo numbers, the invisible chorus being very effective. Mr. Harold Hill (tenor) scored a distinct success in his solo work, his singing of "A Light in Your Eyes" being very appealing. He also appeared with ecpial success in ducts with Ernie Bknin. as did al.s Wilf. Thompson, the singing of "Re iDawn" being one of the most pleasing 01/ ; this class of item presented. Mr. Thompson's is a contralto voice and he won instantaneous applause for his contribution. Wally Fulford joined Wilf. Thompson in a number of feminine impersonations. Their realisation was distinctly clever, while in dancing they displayed unusual skill and grace. The comedian of the company is Mr. Ernest Graham, arid he had the audience last night fairly rocking with laughter, firstly in his presentation of 'Apple Dumplings," and later in "The Village Concert," in which he gave some really clever impersonations of different types of village concert performers. Messrs Will Cotterill, Leighton Bane, and Alf North, all contributed valuable offerings in the "Bran Pic" entertainment, which was voted a bisr success. The programme concluded with a clever impersonation (in which all'the company joined) of "final scenes," as given by different types of actors, in playing the parts of hero mid heroine, first the operatic style, then the dramatic and lastly the tragedian style- Mr. Arthur Gordon presided at the piano. The Kiwis play again to-night in their final appearance at New Plymouth.